You’ve heard it before.
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we all would have a fine Christmas.
Or in the case of Nebraska football, we would have a winning season.
Let’s review.
IF Nebraska doesn’t miss two field goals, give Ohio State great field position after a 13-yard punt, and have a questionable pass interference called on the Blackshirts near the end zone, does Nebraska beat the Buckeyes?
IF Adrian Martinez doesn’t throw four interceptions against Purdue, including a pick-six, does Nebraska beat the Boilermakers?
IF, with the football three inches from the Minnesota goal line, Nebraska lines its quarterback up under center and sneaks the ball straight ahead for a TD, rather than lining up in the shotgun five yards behind the line of scrimmage – which led to running back Jaquez Yant stumbling and falling short of the goal line – does Nebraska beat the Gophers?
IF Adrian Martinez does not fumble late in the game with the score tied 29-29 vs Michigan, does Nebraska go on to beat the Wolverines?
IF Nebraska’s punter doesn’t punt the football to the wrong side of the field (opposite his coverage) does Michigan State NOT return the punt for a TD and Nebraska hold on to beat the Spartans?
IF Nebraska does not commit eight drive-killing penalties and have an extra point blocked and returned by Oklahoma for a two-point score, does Nebraska upset the Sooners?
IF Adrian Martinez doesn’t commit a fumble and scoop for an Illinois score at the end of the first half, do we beat the Illini?
That’s just during the current 2021 campaign. Looks look back a bit farther.
IF Adrian Martinez does not get hit and fumble while attempting to throw a touchdown pass late in the game, does Nebraska beat Iowa on November 27, 2020?
IF Nebraska could have gotten Iowa to turn the ball over in the final minute of the 2019 and 2018 games, could they have beaten the Hawkeyes instead of losing both games by three points on last-second field goals?
IF Nebraska can make one big play on defense, does it stop Northwestern from driving 99-yards in one minute and 53 seconds to score the tying touchdown with only 12 seconds left in the game and wipe out an eventual Wildcat win in overtime?
IF a dangerous lightning storm does not attack Lincoln, Nebraska on the night of September 1, 2018 does Nebraska go on to beat Akron and get its first Scott Frost coached win under its belt?
IF a victory over Akron would have happened, would Nebraska have been better prepared to play Colorado the next week in Lincoln? And would Nebraska have beaten the Buffaloes in a game that instead saw Nebraska commit 11 penalties and allow Colorado to score the winning TD in the last minute of the game?
IF you want more ifs that will focus on the pre-Scott Frost era of Nebraska football, join me next week.
That’s IF you are willing to spend a dollar for more Husker iffy history!